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As I Was
Saying…
Publisher | Steve Penna
Finally city staff has admitted that the new cuttingedge
parking system in the downtown area is less
than perfect and that going back to the old meters
is an option. This comes at a time when those
revenues are way down, and many visitors to
downtown avoid the meters at all costs. So as a
way to create revenue during this so-called budget
crisis, the City Council voted to increase parking
fees throughout the area. This comes after they also
increased the parking ticket fees last year to $35.
What’s next, a sidewalk usage fee?
The Downtown Business Group, which represents
the area’s businesses, did not weigh in on the
issue, thus leading city staff, the City Council and
the general public to assume that the downtown
businesses do not care if their customers are
charged more for using their services. I for one
would not have taken the silent approach because
it is just going to deter more people from wanting
to shop and eat downtown. But that is just me.
.…
The Independence Day celebrations have come
and gone in Redwood City and I, like so many
in our community, enjoyed the annual parade
and after activities surrounding the County
Center area. It was disappointing not having
the traditional fireworks display, but that is for
another column.
As the Fourth approached, I decided that I
wanted to ride in the parade and thought doing so
on a fire truck would be great fun. So I contacted
a few people and arranged to ride on one as a
“community member.” I had also thought about
riding on the “trash” truck as they have beverages
and music to enjoy. But fire truck it was.
On the morning of, after rushing around my
house trying to get organized, I was feeling I
would not make it on time to our designated
meeting place at the Marshall Street fire
station. Most of the side streets feeding into the
downtown area were blocked off because of the
parade setup, so maneuvering around was more
difficult than I expected. I arrived in the general
vicinity of the fire station and saw a few parking
spots near the Kaiser Hospital parking lot. They
were just beyond a few orange cones blocking
off the street and parking stalls. Since there were
some cars already there, I thought maybe I could
just drive around them and park fast. Which I
tried, but one of Redwood City’s finest (and I
don’t mean Miss Redwood City) let me know it
was not OK and directed me to park in one of
the dozens of empty spots in a parking lot a few
feet away. I could not see those spots when I was
outside the cones, so I felt a little embarrassed
after noticing them. I parked and arrived right on
time and headed to meet my chariot.
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When I got to the fire station, the annual
pancake breakfast was in full swing and as I
walked down the street, I stopped along the
way to talk to friends and people I recognized:
Melanie Seybert (who reminded me she would
be taking some pictures of me; she didn’t), Paula
Uccelli (who introduced me to her nephews from
out of state who had just graduated from college
and were celebrating Redwood City style), Diana
Johnson (whom I had not seen in a while) and
Georgi LaBerge and Warren Dale (who were all
set up to watch the parade).
In no time, the time had arrived — I was to
ride on an engine that had been restored by the
firefighters and was not an official city truck.
Local businessman Alpio Barbara was riding on
it with me as were some firefighters and their kids.
Once I got on the back of the truck, I noticed
they had banners on the side of the engine that
encouraged residents to call City Hall and tell
them that they should not close fire stations in
their neighborhoods. Now I try my best to stay
neutral on these issues (firefighters vs. City Hall
and budget cuts) as I have to report and write on
them, but I was already there and life is too short
to be deterred from riding by a few banners with
messages I may or may not support. So we were
off and rolling.
As we got to our destination, where they line up
the parade participants in order on the side streets
around the Mezes Park neighborhood, we had a
chance to sit idly waiting for our turn to enter the
parade route. As we waited, we noticed that the
driver of one of the grand marshals of the parade
had accidentally locked her keys in the trunk of
her car. Your guess is as good as mine. However,
she was in luck because we had firefighters and an
auto shop owner right there to assist.
Alpio informed us all that this particular model
did not have a trunk release from inside, so we
could stop looking for one and would have to find
another way to get to the keys. As a few Marines
came over to help, we found out the seats in the
back were in fact bolted down so no one could get
in that way. Just as we had run out of legitimate
options, the parade director came and informed us
the parade had started and it was our turn to move
forward and that a tow truck would come in a few
minutes to help get the keys. I never found out
whether they made it or not.
But I did find out from one of the firefighters
that the battery for a BMW is in the trunk.
Coincidently, someone had asked me to give them
a battery jump the day before and I said yes, but
when we opened the hood of my car, we could not
find the battery. Now I know where it is. Is there
anything a firefighter cannot help with?
As we rode along the parade route, the crowd
seemed less enthusiastic then I had imagined. But
as our truck rolled by, we were met with applause
and waves. There was even this whole group of
gals who had signs stating “We love firefighters”
(Does that mean me?) “Newly single and looking
for a hot man” (Believe me, I was sweating it up
riding in the hot sun) and “Firefighters are hot.”
Being a single man, I realized I now want to be a
firefighter.
Needless to say, it was a good day!
.…
Now to the budget and the issue of cutting “core
services.” (I am just writing about the core
services this month, but there are other areas
that need exposing that I will write about in the
future.) There seems to be some disagreement
as to what core services really mean, but let’s
just say for the sake of argument that it means
safety services (police and fire) and keeping our
streets and roads clean and functional. Those are
the things that are essential to us as taxpayers.
The other things, like planning and parks and
recreation, are not core services and should be
considered luxuries when we’re faced with cutting
core services. If you want those types of services,
pay for them. I mean, would you rather have a
weed pulled or a police officer at your door when
you need them? It is that simple and logical.
In this round of budget cuts, the Police
Department lost the most. They will lose a dozen
full-time positions: six sworn officers, four
community service officers, a dispatcher and a
clerk. They will also lose two part-time positions.
Now, you ask, what are core services?
Firefighters seem to be the most upset about the
cuts and will lose two positions and $1 million
or so in overtime dollars. Much of the overtime
costs come because the city has not fully staffed
the department and chose to pay overtime instead
of increasing the staff, thus avoiding the extra
benefits and pension plans, which is also at issue
with both departments.
The firefighters have started a campaign of
sorts to urge residents to call City Hall to keep
the stations staffed and not have any more layoffs
or cuts. This is just in preparation for what many
assume is coming in the next dozen months —
more cuts and restructuring.
The main question is, and will be, if core
services are being cut, how will those cuts affect
the response time of any of our safety responders?
I for one will not accept any less service in that
area and hope most in our community will not either.
(continued on page 28)